At 3pm on Sunday - just an hour before the throw-in for Dublin's National League semi-final against Donegal - the official Dublin Twitter account posted their team.
At full-forward was named Diarmuid Connolly.
Shortly prior to the game, two changes were made. Connolly and Eric Lowndes were out, replaced Paul Mannion and Cian O'Sullivan, respectively.
#DUBvDON Team News:https://t.co/K2nCCwNuPW pic.twitter.com/tIgBAMqcwi
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) April 10, 2016
Obviously, given Connolly's prominence for Dublin over recent years, there was interest post-game as to why he did not play.
Connolly wasn't missed. Dublin won easily by ten points. But still, there was curiosity. Was he injured? Could he miss the final or some of the Championship?
In the press conference after the game, Jim Gavin simultaneously diminished speculation regarding Connolly's fitness and created fresh interest as to why he didn't play.
Questioned if Connolly was injured, Gavin simply replied 'Nope' and offered no further information - that's according to the Irish Times.
Similarly, the Irish Independent's Vincent Hogan had no further insight.
Dublin had no Diarmuid Connolly (nothing wrong with the St. Vincents' man according to his manager, just not selected)
Perhaps it was merely a decision from Gavin to rest Connolly with a view to keeping him fresh for the League final and the Championship. It is curious though that one of the best footballers in the country didn't even feature off the bench in a league semi-final and that questions regarding his absence were given such short shrift.
Picture credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE
